Suspension device



Oct. 13, 1959 K, RlsCHE ET AL 2,908,404

SUSPENSION DEVICE Filed June 2l, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY United States PatentOtiice SUSPENSION DEVICE Kurt Rische, Karl-Marx-Stadt, Albert Kreil, Glauchau, and Gnter Marek, Karl-MarX-Stadt, Germany Application June 21, 1957, Serial No. 667,234 Claims priority, application Germany February 13, 1957 9 Claims. (Cl. 214-1) This invention relates to suspension apparatus .and more particularly to a suspension device for elongated handling cars by which a simple and time saving means for lifting long material of any desired length is provided.

Various types of suspension devices are well known in the art. For example, one type includes a suspended roller conveyor upon which the elongated structure can be carried to the lifting device. However, this type has the disadvantage that the loading station and shafts must have a sufficient height for the application of a roller conveyor as the elongated element is transported in a vertical position. Another type of apparatus for the transportation of elongated elements is provided in which the material is packed in a horizontal position into a handling car. The front wheels of the car are then driven into the elevating means, whereupon the elevator cage is moved slightly downwardly. The car must then be brought into the vertical position in the lift either manually or by means of a winch. This type of apparatus, however, has the disadvantage that the center of gravity of the car cannot be located at any desired place as care must be taken to prevent tipping in the moving cage and, furthermore, the nature and manner in which this loading is done is very arduous. A further disadvantage of this type of apparatus is that it is unsuitable for very long members.

Another suspension apparatus contemplates the use of a handling car loaded with elongated members which is suspended from the outer bottom of the hoisting cage. This type has the disadvantage that the speed of the conveyor is greatly reduced and the lifting requires a great amount of time. In all ofthese aforementioned types of systems, it is necessary to have the conveyance means precisely located during loading and unloading within very small tolerances, thereby introducing great diiculties, primarily at underground locations because of the cable swinging that occurs as well as due to the inaccurate steering thereof since this conveyor must be switched into its proper position.

According to the present invention, these disadvantages are obviated. One end of a handling car is provided with a roller support device upon which rollers are supported for engagement by the vertical conveyor means. Vertical conveyor means is also provided with suitable support apparatus so that a dependable ejection is assured during unloading and a positive engagement is assured during loading of the car. The elevator is also provided with a stop that engages with the roller support of the car when the car comes to rest in a vertical position so that the car can be swung outwardly only from a certain angle on the suspension apparatus so that accidents are avoided. Furthermore, a cable is provided that extends over a pulley to two attachment points so that the positioning of the car is facilitated, thereby saving time and labor during use.

For other objects and for a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed 2,908,404 Patented Oct. 13, 1959 description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. l is a side elevational view of a suspension device made in accordance with the present invention in one position of use;

Fig. 2 is a View similar to Fig. l, showing an advanced position of use;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. l, showing a still further position of use;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1, tion of the apparatus for unloading;

' Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of a suspension support bracket secured to an elongated car;

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 5;

' lFig. 7 is a lfragmentary side elevational view of a suspension device forming a part of the vertical conveyor-apparatus and indicating a car suspended therefrom; and

Fig.. 8 is afragmentary enlarged partial front elevational and partial sectional view of the suspension device and suspension support bracket with a car indicated in a suspended substantially vertical position thereon.

Referring now more in detail to the drawing, an elongated handling car 1 is shown in which one end is provided with an attached ribbed roller support 2 in which a shaft 3 is secured. A roller 4 is rotatably supported at each opposite end of the shaft 3` and is arranged for engagement with the suspension rails 5 of the vertical conveyor 6. An entrance rail 7 extends obliquely downwardly to the suspension point 8' while an ejection rail 9 extends obliquely upwardly to the opening defined between the entrance and ejection rail.

A safety device is also provided in the form of a pair of stop lugs 10 that are secured to the ribbed roller support 2 intermediate the shaft 3. The lugs 10 project inwardly toward each other at the end of the car and are adapted to engage behind a locking pin 11 mounted 'directly below the suspension rails 5 of the conveyor. The pin 11 is of a length to extend between the edges of the stop lugs 10 (see Figs. 6 and 8). Thus, when the car 1 is swung into position, the stop lugs 10 rotate with the car until they are positioned behind the pin 11, so that the car 1 can be moved outwardly on the suspension rails 5 only from a given angle at which the stop lugs 10 are clear of the pin 11 during the normal unloading thereof.

A flexible cable 12 is also provided for facilitating the loading and unloading of the elongated car 1. This cable 12 is secured at one point 14 to the car and at the other end to a fixed bracket 15. The intermediate portion of the cable 12 is trained about the pulley 13, as shown in Figs. l and 2. It will thus be recognized that by pushing the car 1 into engagement with vertical conveyor 6, the upward movement of the conveyor will automatically lift the wheels at the opposite end of the car vertically upwardly from the level upon which it is being loaded. Therefore, the safety swinging platform 16 is not unduly worn by the tail wheels 17 of the car during showing the posithe lifting thereof as the cable 12 guides those wheels out of engagement with the floor level.

The manner in which the device operates will now be described. Upon loading the conveying device 6, the shaft 3 located at the one end of the handling car 1 is moved, together with its associated rollers 4, into engagement with the suspension rail 5 of the conveyor device 6 along the downwardly inclined entrance rail 7. As shown in Fig. l, the cable 12 is secured to the opposite end of the car 1 and to the xed bracket 15. The vertical conveyor 6 is then actuated to raise the front end of the car 1, during which the taut cable is operativeY to permit the opposite end of the car 1 to swing inwardly toward the vertical conveyor device 6. It will be recognized that upon the car 1 reaching the vertical;` position;;the cable 12fwill slacken'since adistance between the pulley 13 and the attachment point- 14- is greaterthantthe distance betweenthe pulley 13 and the vertical conveyor. As soon as the cableV has slackened, the hoisting is temporarily stopped so that the cable 12 may be removed-from the attachment point 15. The conveyor is then moved downwardly a short distance so that the, attachmentpoint 14 is within reachso that the cable 12 may be completely removed from the car 1. The'raisingof the, car is then commenced to the discharge station.

Upon returning the car 1v tothe original level, the car may be removed from theA vertical: conveyor by followingthe reverse sequence ofY the; aforementioned operation. As shown in Fig. 4, the cable 12 may be used to pull the opposite end of the car out of the shaft of the elevator toward the horizontal position. As it reaches the horizontalposition, the'shaft 3 and rollers 4 automatically are disengaged from the suspension rail by the action ofthe ejection rail 9 which functions as a cam to urge the car 1 completely outwardly fromfthe conveyor shaft. The car 1 is then ready for the next loading in the aforementioned manner.

While various changes may be made in the detail construction, it shall be understood that such. changes shall be within the spirit andvscope of the present inventionV as defined by the appended claims.

What we claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A suspensionk device for elongated material handling cars comprising, in combination, a vertical conveyor and a handling car, said conveyor including a car supportdevice having a main suspension rail, an entrance rail and an ejection rail extending obliquely upwardly in upwardly diveriging relationship from said suspension rail whereby said entrance rail presents an inclined plane lifting and positioning surface, and said handling car having support means at one end for releasably engaging said conveyor, said support means extending outwardly from an edge of said car for alignment over the outer edgeof saidentrance rail when said car is positioned for being lifted thereby.

2. A suspension device as set forth in-claim l, wherein said support means comprises a ribbedv roller support at said one end.

3. A suspension device-as set forth in claim 2, further comprising a shaft secured to said ribbed roller support, and a roller rotatably secured to each opposite end of said shaft.

4. A suspension device as set forth in claim 3, further comprising a pair of stop lugs extending inwardly from opposite ends of said shaftk and` being disposed below said shaft, and a locking pin carried by said conveyor below said suspension rail, being of a length to become engaged atl each end by said stop lugs upon rotation of said car from a horizontal to a vertical position about said shaft to automatically position said stop behind said pin thereby preventing accidental release of said car from said Conveyor.

5. A suspension device as set forth in claim 4, further comprising a exible cable fixed at one extremity to a stationary object and at the opposite extremity to the opposite end of said car, elevation of said one end of said car` being operative to elevate said opposite end thereof.,

6. Asuspension device as set forth in claim 5, wherein said one end of said car is adapted to be raised vertically by said conveyor and said opposite end of said car is adapted to be swung from an extended position upwardly and inwardly toward said conveyor.

7. A suspensiondevice asi set forth in claim 6, wherein said cable extends vertically upwardly from said opposite end of said car a distance at least as great as the length of said car and at a point spaced from said vertical conveyor a distance equal to the length of said car.

8. A suspension device as set forth in claim 7, wherein said car support device is arranged directly upon the lower end of said conveyor.

9. Asuspension device as set forth in claim 8, wherein movement of said one end of said car toward said verticalconveyor during upward vertical movement of said conveyor is operative toautomatically engage said shaft and rollers within said entrance rail and said suspension rail for elevating said car, said opposite end of said car being simultaneously elevated and guided toward vertical alignment with said one end by said taut flexible cable.

References-Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,467,223 Barkley Sept. 4, 1923 1,508,996' Simpson Sept. 16, 1924 FOREIGN PATENTS 894,907 Germany Oct. 29, 1953 

